Review of Black Orpheus (1959) by William L — 04 Mar 2009

Technically speaking, this is a fabulous film--it is visually luscious with a soundtrack that brings the viewer right into the dawn of the era of bossa nova. Don't think too much, however. If you do, you will see the objectification of the brown Other, a people who are always "sorrindo e sambando" (smiling and dancing samba) as the lyrics go. In fact, from the moment that Eurydice steps off of the boat, we start to think that abject poverty and class exploitation may not be so bad after all if only we had rhythm and could dance as we hawked our goods.

The film goes downhill from there, creating an imaginary idea of the happy and stereotyped natives at a time when millions of desperate masses poured into the cities of the southeast from the drought-ridden northeast. I personally found the film offensive; after seeing it the first time, my friend said that he felt objectified.